From now through December, the Academy Center of the Arts is hosting our Annual Cash and Carry artist member sale. This sale, which allows community members to view and purchase artwork during the holiday season, is always filled with extraordinary work from our showcased artists. But, this year, one artist has stood out.
Colton Clay Wood, an 8th-grade student at Monelison Middle School, is the youngest artist in the Cash and Carry show at the Academy Center of the Arts. At the age of 13, he’s already turning heads and making a splash with his work.
“I was very intrigued by Colton’s sculptural work,” said Ted Batt, Director of Visual Arts. “He uses unusual materials (masking tape, straws, for example) and has a great imagination. I am particularly impressed with his figurative work – he captures the personality of various movie and television characters and his work has this really wonderful, whimsical nature. At 13 years of age, Colton already possesses a unique artistic style and shows a promising future in the visual arts!”
Where does his inspiration come from? “From a young age, Colton has had some difficult challenges fitting in, but could always find himself in creativity,” says Mrs. Wood, Colton’s mother. “Since he was about 5 or 6, he has enjoyed the art and imagination from movies like The Wizard of Oz, and filmmakers like Tim Burton.”
Colton “showed his imagination through his drawings, but his real talent and love is to make things, images, and art out of anything he possibly can.”
Colton’s work in the Cash and Carry show varies in medium, with sculptures, ornaments, jewelry, and other trinkets available for sale. So far, 12 of Colton’s pieces have sold, and it’s clear why.
“This is truly where Colton’s future is. This is what he strives for. Ever day Colton comes home from school and sits at his desk to pour his ideas out into his art, his creations. This is his love.”
Want to buy a piece of work from Colton? Visit the Arts & Education Gallery in the Academy’s Warehouse Theatre, 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday, to view and purchase his work, now through December.
